Valencia sinks Real Zaragoza in Primera Liga
Valencia continued its recent improved form by beating high-flying Real Zaragoza, 1-0, on Saturday night thanks to a wonder strike from Spain international Miguel Angel Angulo.
In a clash between two Primera Liga clubs who will be eyeing a Champions League spot this season, Angulo's 35-yard piledriver just before halftime settled the contest in favor of Valencia, which has now claimed back-to-back victories having previously gone six league matches without a win.
Another team which is beginning to find its feet is Athletic Bilbao, who followed up last weekend's 4-2 win over Recreativo Huelva with a 2-0 triumph at Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.
The win, which was secured thanks to a brace of goals at either end of the game from Javi Martinez, was only Athletic's third victory overall this season, but helped lift it up to 16th.
Depor appear to be going in the opposite direction to Athletic, though, and it is now 14th following this defeat, three points ahead of the Basque side.
Joaquin Caparros's team, who had Juanma sent off eight minutes from time, must now try and regroup ahead of its final game of 2006 in mid-week, which sees them go to a Sevilla side which has won all seven of its home matches so far.
Saturday's other Primera Liga game saw Racing Santander fight back from a goal down to beat mid-table rivals Real Mallorca, 2-1.
Bosko Jankovic put the home side ahead early on with his fifth strike of the season, but second-half goals from Ruben Gonzalez and substitute Javier Balboa - who netted in the 88th minute - earned visitors Racing the spoils.